The Party of Wales Arfon Standing up for the people of Arfon

Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon Hywel Williams, MS Siân Gwenllian and Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts have called for urgent progress to be made with a consultation on a proposed Park and Ride scheme in Eryri, following chaotic scenes at Pen y Pass over the weekend which saw hundreds of cars clogging the A4086 and nearby roads, causing dangerous bottlenecks. They have also sought clarity on what short-term measures will be introduced ahead of next weekend.

The local representatives said that scenes at Pen y Pass and Nant Peris highlighted the pressing need to bring forward a long-term and sustainable solution to perennial parking problems at the popular visitor hotspot and that sticking plaster solutions would no longer suffice.

Hywel Williams MP, Siân Gwenllian MS and Liz Saville Roberts MP said,

‘The scenes at Pen y Pass over the weekend were truly shocking. Nothing can excuse the behaviour of those who wantonly abandoned their vehicles on an exceptionally busy stretch of the A4086 with little regard for the safety of other road users and our emergency services.’

‘Whilst parking restrictions and enforcement measures may be of limited benefit, they are merely short-term sticking plaster solutions and simply do not go far enough to deal with the long-term pressures associated with ever-increasing visitor numbers.’

‘We need a lasting solution that has sustainability at its heart, and that includes bringing forward the current consultation on a Park and Ride scheme and working with the local community to introduce feasible measures to manage the increasing demands on local amenities and services.’

'We welcome indications that talks are to recommence between local stakeholders, and the Snowdonia National Park Authority to look at steps to address the problem and would urge those discussions to take place as soon as possible.'

'What events over the weekend underscored is that we cannot wait any longer for a lasting solution to this problem, one which sufficiently deals with the seasonal pressures on our communities and prioritises the interests of the local economy, road users and our natural environment.'

'We need incentives for people to leave their cars behind and to travel to and through Eryri in a sustainable way. We would further appeal to all visitors to Eryri to respect the environment and our local communities and leave nothing but their footprints behind.'